Bobbin stripping apparatus



Oct. 14, 1952 c. F. WH|TAKER BOBBIN STRIPPING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet l c. F. WHITAKER BOBBIN STRIPPING APPARATUS Oct. 14, 1952 'T Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. ll, 1949 Oct 14, 1952 c. F. WHITKER 2,513,425

BOBBIN STRIPPING APPARATUS Filed Aug. l1, 1949 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,W4 -T F6 112- ,tf/gf Oct. 14, 1952 c. F. WHITAKER BOBBIN STRIPPING APPARATUS '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 11, 1949 y f im e e@ om M M MW, 2 zwm, wm a a C. F. WHITAKER BOBBIN STRIPPING APPARATUS Oct. 14, 1952 7 sheets-sheet 5 Filed Aug. ll, 1949 Oct. 14, 1952 c. F. wHlTAKER BOBBIN STRIPPING APPARATUS '7 sheets-sheet e Filed Aug. 1*l, 1949 Der. 14, 1952 c. F. WHITAKER 2,613,425

BoBBIN STRIPPING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 1949 'z sheets-sheet '7 y l 199 b u Y e lu mn .l

Patented ct. 14, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOBBIIN" STRIPPING APPARATUS .Carl F. Whitaker, Beverly, Mass. Application August 11, 1949,- Serial No. 109,770

17 Claims.

whicll removes thread. and lint fromthe spindle hole ofl the Ybobbingzwhich w-ill accommodate sev,-

eral bobbins simultaneously, which iszradaptable to` accommodate bobbins of` different lengths,

`which requires a'minimum iofzmaintenance and -servicing,which is rapid and positive in 'operaf tionfwhich Vdoes not require askilled operator, and which advances generallythe :art to which itisrelated.

In a broad Yaspect .the Ainvention contemplates apparatusv comprising holdingnmeans for releasably holding a Abobbin andthread. stripping lmeans havinginstrumentalities suchas aplough anda knife,` y which r may be .either rotary Vor .sta-

ltionary; for severing thethread wound lupon the bobbin. Means. vare A. .also :provided for v,effecting relative movement .between the holding Yfrneans and the stripping means Aso `that-the instrumentalitiesare=` brought-finto. operating engagement with the thread .uponthe bobbin.

another i broad aspeetsthe invention contemplates apparatus comprising afmagazine havving provision for holding aplurality ,of bobbins. lMeans 'for rexannrzle a Geneva movement, are provided for moving .the magazine either.4 linearly or rotatably; successively i .to .present the fbohbins held fin 4the Y kmagazine' sto. aI c plurality; Aof work stations. Includedzamong suchstations area `bobbin loading station iand a station wherein are combined the .threads stripping andhobbin unloading operations. Means are also ,provided for removing fthe bobbins from the. unloading station after theV thread has 4been strippedtherefrom.

Inv one' speciflic aspect the wmagazinegfor the bobbins-'comprises two axially aligned ,discs,. one

offwhichhas' aplurality of `apertures circumferentia-lly located at equally spacedv intervals Ufor receiving ends of therespective-bobbins. v'l-he opposite ends of the respective-bobbins are u'held in radially `disposed J recessesA inA the secondi disc, Whichfrecesses "correspondin axial alignment withthe aperturesl inthe first disc. Such axial alignment is maintained `by means `of a shaft"V which connects the discs. A cover memberis positioned to enclose the periphery of the ire- .cessed disc `so that the bobbin ends are restrained in the respective recesses during irotation of the magazine. The Arotationofthe maga,-

.zineis preferably, lalthough not necessarily, provided by a Geneva movement, the roll-thereof engaging radial-.Slots provided in .Orlego the/dists- The, Geneva movement provides intermittent rotation tothe magazine so that the operator can manually feed bobbins to the magazine at the loading station through a slot in the cover which permits the ends of lthe respective bobbins to be dropped into afldiscnreoess after the opposite end of the bobbin-has been inserted in the ,corresponding aperture in the :other disc.

In another aspect the bobbinzsl-,are removed from the unloading station by means of a plunger which may be operated in synchronism nwith the .rotation vof the magazine so that a rapid return stroke may be provided. r'Ihe operation of the plunger by means of acam or otherwise forces the bobbin in the -unloadingwstation into ahollow member which is provided with a detent ,for restraining-the removed -bobbin so thatl the plunger can be withdrawn.

A salient feature of the inventionis a thread stripping station which may vbe combined'with the unloading station, wherein'a power driven rotary knifel is `provided for cutting the thread nfrom the bobbin, A plow is oppositely disposed to the knife;for removing the severed threads. To prevent damage tothe bobbin the knife is preferably pivotally supported between the bi- `furcated portions of a presser'foot. Y 'I-herelative position of the knife and footewhich is determined by an adjustable stop, is yieldably -maintained by spring means. Other spring -means are provided to move pivotally the foot intocontact with the bobbin at its neckto pickup any threads not out by the sloughing knife. Atripping latch withholds the foot from dropping onto the bobbin ,duringy the movementof the magazine and is tripped only if a bebbin is in vthat portion of the Vmagazine that is moving into theustripping station fromv its previous station.

Another aspect of the invention is a sloughing `station for ripping openthe end of-fully orfpartially wound bobbins, therebyadinsthe starting `ofthevrotary knife through the package( In a preferred embodiment the sloughing station includes a yieldable v,cantilever membensecured at one endto theframe of thepdevice. `A series of teeth are provided at thefreeend of the cantilever Vmember so-as a bQbbinismoved-into the spindle holes of the bobbins.

sloughing station by the rotation of the magazine, the teeth engage the thread wound upon the bobbin to rotate the bobbin about its own axis. The movement of the magazine also simultaneously brings the threads into contact with the cutting edge of a sloughing knife which is angularly disposed with respect to the axis of the bobbin so that the cutting edge tears open the end of the package of threads wound upon the bobbin.

A still further aspect of the invention is a pneumatic system for distributing jets or streams of air to various locations, thereby to blow away the severed threads which otherwise accumulate until the mechanism becomes jammed thereby. One or more jets are directed towards the base portion of the apparatus to remove severed threads as they are dropped from the sloughing and stripping stations. An additional jet is located at one of the magazine stations so that it blows out any thread or lint accumulated in the Other jets are provided to clear lint and tails from a hollow member or tube which receives the stripped bobbins from the unloading station.

These and other objects and aspects relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

.Fig 1 is a front elevation View of bobbin stripping apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial elevation view of the opposite side of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial end View;

Fig. 4 is a partial view of the opposite end of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional View on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary section View on line l-l of Fig. 3 showing a bobbin in the stripping and unloading station;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in partial section showing the details of the end of the ram and the aperture in the magazine for holding a bobbin;

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view on line 9--9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary View in partial section showing the relationship of the rotary knife and the presser foot;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view of the rotary knife;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation View of a full wound bobbin or package;

Fig. 13 is an end view of the package shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a-fragmentary side elevation View showing the manner in which the sloughing knife engages the end of a package;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary end View of the sloughing knife engaging the package;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevation View showing the rotary knife engaging the sloughed end of a package at the beginning of the stripping operation; and

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary side elevation view showing the relative position of the rotary knife and bobbin near the end of the stripping operation.

Referring to Fig. 1, the bobbin stripping apparatus illustrated comprises a cast base 28 supported at each end by respective frames 22 fabricated of structural angles. Each frame 22 has two vertical legs 24 connected at the top and at an intermediate position by the cross members 26 and 28, respectively. As is shown in Fig. 3, four angle members, placed back to back in pairs to form two adjacent T-sections 38, extend between the lower cross members 28, thereby to provide a platform for a driving motor 32 and a reduction gear unit 34 whose function will be described in detail hereinafter.

At each end of the base 26 arev cast raised bosses 36 (Fig. 1) whereupon arer bolted the brackets 38 and 40, respectively. A third bracket 42 is supported near one end of a third boss 44 positioned upon the top of the base 2U between bosses 36 and 40. The bracket 42 is secured to the boss 44 by means of bolts 46 which engage slotted apertures in the bottom ange of the bracket so that the bracket is slidably adjustable lengthwise of the base 28 to accommodate bobbins of varying lengths as will be described below. As is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the brackets 40 and 42 are maintained in alignment by means of keys 55. Additional rigidity is furnished by a tie rod 48, the ends of which are secured in apertures in the top of brackets 38 and 40 by means of the nuts 58. The bracket 42 is slidably attached to the rod 48 by means of set screw collars 52 in the end of an arm vertically extending from the bracket 42.

Rotatably journaled in the brackets 40 and 42 is a, magazine 55 (Fig. l) adapted to hold a plurality of warp bobbins B similar to the one shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The magazine 55 comprises two discs 54 (Fig. 6) and 56 (Fig. 5) coupled by a rectangular shaft 58 (Fig. 1) whose length is adjustable so that bobbins of varying length can be accommodated. Such adjustment is obtained by telescoping a slotted inner member 60 (Fig. 5) within two plate members 62 (Fig. 6) attached to disc y54 by dowels and cap screws. Relative axial movement between the members 60 and 62 is prevented by means of the bolts 64 which pass through apertures in the plate members 62 and slots in the inner member 68. The magazine 55 is rotatably supported upon trunnions 66 and 68 which are integral with the inner member 68. The trunnions 66 and 68 are journaled in bosses 13 and 12 in the brackets 42 and 40 respectively.

As is best shown in Fig. 6, the disc 54 has fastened thereto by means of bolts '14 eight equally spaced radially extending lugs 16. The projecting end of each lug 'I6 has an aperture 'I8 (Fig. 8) therein which has an inwardly facing conical countersunk portion 88 adapted to receive one end of a bobbin B. Each lug 'I6 is cut away as at 82 to provide a shoulder having a concave contour, thereby to facilitate the insertion of the bobbin end into the aperture '18. In axial alignment with each of the apertures 'I8 is a recess 84 (Fig. 5) cut in the periphery of the disc 56 with a circular contour to accommodate the op posite end of the bobbin B. The bobbins B are retained in the recesses 84 by means of a cover plate 86 which is cast integrally with the bracket 40. The cover 86 has a large circular recess 88 in its inner face wherein is located the disc 56, the diameter of the recess 88 being such that a bobbin B, such as shown in the bottom station in Fig. 5, is maintained in the correlated recess 84 by the wall of recess 88.

The magazine 55 is driven in a clockwise direction (Fig. 5) with an intermittent motion by a Geneva movement 98 (Figs. 2 and 6) comprising a roller 92 carried at the end of an arm 94 so'thatithe `roller engages radially disposed slots 86 iin the disc 54 upon rotation of the arm. During. the' dwell periods, `the magazine 55 is locked by adetent 98 which is pivotally attached to the bracket 42 sothat a spring |00 forces the opposite end of the' detent into the adjacent slot 96.

Thearm 94 is carried upon the projecting end of` a shaft |02 (Fig. 2) which is journaled in a bearing in the lower portion of the bracket 42. The opposite end of the shaft |02 is bifurcated to telescope with a tongue upon one end of a shaft |04. The tongue is slotted to engage bolts |06 which `prevent relative axial movement between the shafts |02 and |04, thisrconstruction allowing' adjustment of the overall shaft length so that the bracket `42 `can accommodate bobbins B of varying lengths.

The shaft k|'04'is journaled in a bearing block `|08 which is bolted tothe base boss 44. At the end of the shaft |04 opposite the tongue 'is attached a bevel gear I which mateswith a second bevel gear ||2 carriedon a shaft ||4 disposed normally to the shaft |04. The shaft ||4 is journaled in two bearings also carried in the bearing block |08. Oneend of the shaft H4 carries a crank arm ||6 (Fig. 2) whose function will be described in detail hereinafter.

The opposite end of the shaft I|4'is fastened toa driven arm ||8 (Fig. 1) of an overload clutch |20. Pivotally4 connected to one end of the arm ||8 is a latch member |22 havinga detent offset |24-which engages a similar offset in a driving member |26 which is free to turn upon the shaft H4. The detent offsets arekept in contact by means of a tension spring |28 which extends between the free end of the arm ||8 and the latch member |22, respectively, so that whenever the torque upon the driven member exceeds a predetermined amount the detents portions disengage and the clutch slips. The driving member |26 is attached to a double sprocket |30 which is also free to turn upon the shaft I I4. The sprocket |30 is coupled by means of two chains |32 to a double sprocket |34 upon the output shaft |36 of the reduction gear unit 34. Power is transmitted from the electric motor 32 to the reduction gear unit 34 by means of a double V-belt |38 which passes over a double driving sheave |40 upon the shaft of the motor 32, a double sheave |42 upon the input shaft to the gear unit 34 and a driven double sheave |44 which drives a .rotaryy stripping knife, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The above described drive operates continuously during the operation of the machine to ro- .tate the magazine 55 in a series of intermittent steps, each of which positions the bobbins B carried by the magazine at successive stations varound. the periphery thereof. The .first station yis the. loading `station at which the operator manually feeds the bobbins B to be stripped into'the magazinef Towards this end the upper portion of cover plate 86 (Fig. 5) is provided with a boss |46 having a slot |48 therein connecting with the circular aperture 88. To insert a bobbin B the operator rstplaces one end thereof in the conical aperture '80 (Fig. 8) in the adjacent lug 16 carried upon the disc 54 (Fig. 6) and then slides the other endof the bobbin through the slot |48 n(Fig. sothat .it rests in the recess 84 in the disc 56.

yThe next rotary step of the magazine 55 by the Geneva motion, as described heretofore, brings thebobbin B, inserted as above, into an air jet station. At this station a conduit |56 (Fig. 1) `directs ajet or stream of` air from a conven- 6 tional `compressed "fair `supply y(not shown) through theaperture'18"'(Fig. 8);.'in the-lug 16 thereby to blow out through a corresponding aperture |52 (Fig.V 5) in the cover plate 86 any thread or lint which might otherwise interfere with proper placement of the bobbin upon a spindle.

No operation is performed upon the bobbin at the third station. The next station .is a Sloughing station in which the end of full or partially wound packages are ripped open to facilitate the stripping of the bobbin, as described in detail hereinafter. If the machine is to be used only to strip tails from the bobbins, this station which is described immediately below, may be omitted thereby simplifying the machine.

The sloughingstation comprises? asloughing knife |54 (Fig. 5) fastened to -the bracket-40h31 means of bolts |51. Theapertures ,through which the bolts `|51 pass `a-re slotted soth'at `the vertical position of the knife |54 is adjustable, thereby to bring an angularly disposed cutting edge |56 (Fig. 14) into position to engage-the threads upon the end of a package by the rotation of the magazine 55, as is shown in Figs. 14 and 15. The bobbin B is also rotated about its own axis as the thread is'brought into oontact with the cutting edge |56 by means of teeth |58 (Fig. 15) near the free end of a cantilever member |60 (Fig. 5).

The member |60 is a yieldable` curved strip of metal at the lower end of which is a backing or reinforcing strip |6| with an angularly disposed forward portion which cooperates with the knife |54 to slough the thread. The other `end of the member |60 is adjustably secured to a block |64 by bolts |62 which passthrough slots inthe member to engage threaded apertures in the block. The block |64 is pivotally supported upon the tie rod 48 passing through an aperture-in the block. The block |64 is locked, by means of bolts |65, in the required position upon the rod 48 to bring the teeth |58 into engagement withthe threads upon the bobbin B.

The fifth station does not perform any operation other than positioning the bobbin B immediately below atrip lever |66. As the bobbin B is moved from thefifth station toA a combined stripping and unloading station, the bobbin B contacts the lever |66 which is secured in an aperture in. the end of a shaft |68 by means of a set screw |69 (Fig. 2). This arrangement permits adjustment of the lever length so that contact of the hooked lever end by the bobbin rotates the shaft |68 which is journaled in a boss H0 near the top of the cover `plate 86. The lever |66 is biased in the position shown inv Fig.` 5 by a spring |12 (Fig. 4) extending between a pin |14 fixed to the cover plate86 and the end of an arm |16 fastened to the shaft |66. The rotationfof the shaft |68 by the biasing action of the spring |12 is limited by a stop such as the adjustment screw |18 which is threaded into an extension from the arm |16 so that the screw end contacts a boss |82 cast integrally with the cover plate 86.

A set screw |84 adjustably secures the upper end of a rod |96 in an aperture near the outer end of the shaft |68. The lower end of .the rod |86 contacts the top of an arm |88 which is fastened to the end of a shaft |90 journaledin a boss |92 projecting from the cover plate 86. The arm |63 is maintained in Vcontact with the 'end -of the rod |86 by aspring |94 whichext'ends vbetween theA end of the 'arm and the setscrew 168.

The opposite end of the shaft |90 carries a bifurcated presser foot |96 (Figs. 7 and 9).

When the bobbin B contacts the trip lever |66 (Fig. 2), the rod |86 releases the arm |88 so that the tines |98 (Fig. 1) at the bifurcated end of the presser foot |96 descends until the foot is restrained by a stop comprising an adjustable screw |61 engaging the threads in an aperture near the end of a rearwardly projecting finger |99 so that the end of the screw contacts a rotary knife housing 226 which will be described in detail hereinafter. As the rotation of the magazine 55 raises the bobbin B, the presser foot i96 is raised, moving the arm |88 back against the force exerted by the spring |94 (Fig. 4) so that the rod |86 is reset by the spring |12.

A power driven rotary knife 200 (Fig. 11) is secured by four screws 20| to one end of a shaft 202 which has an axial projection or arbor for engaging a central aperture in the knife so that it is coaxially positioned with respect to the other end of the shaft 202 which carries a pulley 204 (Fig. 9). The pulley 204 is driven from a larger pulley 266 (Fig. 2) by means of a flat belt 29S which also passes under a tension regulating idler pulley 2I0 carried upon one end of an arm 2|2. The other end of the arm 2|2 is pivotally secured to the base 26, as at 2 I4. The movement of the arm 2 |2 is limited by a chain 2 6 (Fig. 6) which is tied to the base 20.

The large driving pulley 206 is secured to the projecting end of a shaft 2 I8 which is journaled in bearings 228 and 22| (Fig. 6) carried by a bearing bracket 222. The bracket 222 comprises a body portion carrying the innermost bearing 220 which is attached to the bottom of the base 20 by the bolts 223 and a gooseneck portion 224 which projects outwardly from the base to support the outboard bearing 22|. The pulley |44 (Fig. l) driven from the motor 32 by the V-belts |98, as described heretofore, is attached to the shaft 2|8 between the bearings 220 and 22|, the gooseneck portion 224 providingthe necessary clearance whereby operation of the motor 32 drives the rotary knife 200 at high speed.

The shaft 202 (Fig. 9) carrying the pulley 204 and the rotary knife 200 at its respective ends is journaled in bearings such as the ball bearings 203 secured in the housing 226. The end of the housing 226 opposite the shaft supporting end is bifurcated thereby pivotally connecting with a boss 228 (Fig. 4) at the end of an arm 230 extending vertically from a bracket 232. The downward movement of the rotary knife 20! is limited by a screw 233 which engages a threaded aperture in an arm 235 extending horizontally from the arm 239 so that the end of the screw contacts a finger 23| extending downwardly from one cf the bifurcated portions of the housing 226. The bracket 232 is slidably attached to a projecting portion 234 of the bracket 40 by means of the bolts 236 which project through slots in the bracket to engage threaded apertures in the projecting portion 234 of bracket 40 so that the position of the knife 200 is adjusted horizontally by movement of the housing 226 and the bracket 232.

The rotary knife 206 is located between the tines |98 of the presser foot |96, as is shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the relative position thereof being determined by an adjustable stop comprising a set screw 231 (Fig. 7) which engages a threaded aperture in the housing so that the end of the screw contacts the top of the presser foot |96. The end of the screw 231 is yieldably maintained in contact with the presser foot |96 by difference in the forces exerted by springs 236 and 240 (Fig. 2). The spring 240 is compressed between the bottom of the bracket 232 and nuts 244 which are in threaded engagement with the lower end of a rod 242. The rod 242 extends vertically upward through an aperture in the bracket 232 to engage pivotally, as at 246, the housing 226 so that the force exerted by the spring 240 pivots the housing 226 to bring the rotary knife down until the end of the screw 231 contacts the top of the presser foot |96. Such pivoting of the housing 226 is opposed by the second spring 238 which is compressed between the top of the bracket 232 and nuts 248.

The bottom of the lower ends of the tines |98 (Fig. 10) of the presser foot |96 are concave so that they conform generally to the contour of the bobbin B as the foot |96 is forced against the bobbin B by the spring |94 upon being released by operation of the trip lever |66. as has been described in detail heretofore. By proper adjustment of the screw 231, the rotary knife 200 can be lowered between the tines |98 so that the knife will cut the final layer of thread wound upon the bobbin B without cutting the bobbin itself.

Relative axial movement between the bobbin B and the rotary knife 200 is caused by a ram or plunger 250 (Figs. 2 and 1) which reciprocates in synchronism with the rotation of the magazine, as described below, to force the bobbin B in the stripping and unloading station into a hollow member such as the conduit 252. The plunger 250 is slidably restrained in bosses 254 (Fig. l) and 256 in the brackets 38 and 42, respectively. The end of the plunger 250 extending beyond the boss 254 is enclosed in a guard such as the tube 258 which is closed at its extended end by a cap 260 (Fig. 3). The opposite end of the plunger 250 is provided with a tip 262 (Fig. 8) which upon movement of the plunger, passes through the aperture 18 in the disc lug 16 to engage the end of the spindle hole in the bobbin B in the stripping and unloading station.

The force for reciprocating the plunger 250 is applied through a link 264 (Fig. 1), one end of which is pivotally connected to a crosshead 266 fastened to the plunger adjacent the boss 254. The opposite end of the link 264 is pivotally connected to a projecting arm of a cam plate 268, the other end of the plate being pivotally connected to the base 20, as at 210.

The cam plate 268 has a cam groove 212 which engages a roll 214upon the end of the crank arm I6 which is rotated by the motor 32 as has been described in detail heretofore. The main portion of the cam groove 212 is circular, having the same radius of curvature as the locus of the circle made by the crank pin 214 so that during the upward portion of the crank arms motion the plunger 250 remainsl in a retracted position. The Geneva movement is synchronized with the travel of the plunger 250 so that movement of the magazine 55 takes place while the plunger is in such .retracted position. As the crank arm H6 completes its downward movement the plunger 250 is moved forward and then returned. Because of the difference in the distance between the pivot point 210 and the crank pin 214 during the forward and return strokes of the plunger 250, the no load return stroke is considerably faster than the forward stroke.

As the bobbin B is forced into the tube 252 during the forward stroke of the plunger 250, the rotary knife 200 severs the thread wound upon .slotted .apertures in the shank. The supporting member 218 is pivotally mounted .in brackets 282 upon the side of the base 2l] so that the move- `ment of a bobbin B into the stripping and unloading station forces the plough 21.6 loutwardly to Vpermit the bobbin to pass,l whereupon aspring 284 extended between a pin upon the base 26 andthe plough shank returns the ploughto its operating position. Such position is determined by the adjustment of a screw 286 which engages athreaded aperture in the supporting member so that its end contacts the side of the bracket 46.

As is shown in Fig. 7, the bobbins EBV are Vsuccessively moved into the tube 252 and thence out the open end to drop into a container (not shown) by successive strokes of the plunger 256.

As the plunger 256 forces a bobbin into the position occupied by B', a detent or latch 28B is drawn through a slot 290 by a spring 292 to engage the head at the end of the bobbin B. whereby the bobbin B' is restrained so that the tip 262 can be withdrawn from the spindle hole. The detent location is made adjustable for bobbins of various lengths by pivoting the end thereof on acollar 294 which is `slidably arranged about the outside of the tube 252. A screw 296 locks the collar 294 in the adjusted position. The severed threads which tend to accumulate in the tube 252 thereby to jam the plunger D are clearedv by a jet-of air from the tube 295.

Assuming that the motor'32 has been energized `and that the position of the bracket 42 (Fig. 1) and the length of shafts 5B and |62 has been adjusted as has lbeen described heretofore so-'that the magazine 55 will accommodate bobbins of the desired length, the bobbin Astripping apparatus operatesv as follows: During the dwell period of the Geneva. .movement el), the operator manually inserts a bobbin B Jrobe stripped, which may have either a full or `partial* package or-tails wound thereupon, into the magazine 55 at the loading station by first inserting the end of `the bobbin in the conical aperture im (Fig. 8) in the lug. `16 and then dropping the head end ofthe bobbin into the slot |48 (Fig. 5). The inserted bobbin is then moved by the Geneva movement to the air liet station wherein astream of air from the conduit |56 (Fig. l)` blows any lint or thread from the spindle hole of the bobbin.

Further intermittent rotation of the magazine 55l brings the bobbin into the sloughing station. If the bobbin carries only tails, no operation takes place at this station. If the package is completely or partially wound, the thread thereupon engages the teeth |58` (Fig. 15) at the end of the cantilever member |66 so that the bobbin is rotated about its own axis as the thread comes into contact with the cuttingedge |56 of a sloughing knife |54. The `combined action of the knife |54, plow ||6| and the toothed member |66 `rips or sloughs the threads at .the end of the package sothat the rotary knife `2Enl (Fig. 7) canbe started into the end, as shown in Fig. 16. The magazine 55 then mo-ves ,the. bobbin B into the stripping and vun- .loadingrstation Yduring which travel the bobbin contacts 4thetrip leverV |66 (Fig. 5) which drops the'fpresserfoot Vliitand the rotary knife 266 down upon the top of the bobbin (Figs. 1 and 16) as hasbeen describedxheretofore. The cam plate 268 (Fig.` 1) which .is synchronized with the rotation ofthe magazine then moves the plunger 25D into contact with the end of the bobbin B to .force the bobbin into the tube 252. (Fig. 7) where it is .restrained by `the ydetent .268 as the plunger is returned', the rotary .knife 266 and the plough 2.16 stripping ythe bobbin B :bare as it is Vforced therebetween..

The. .above described stripping operationeesumedthat the-bobbins B have been properly wound.y However, because `of the shape of the tines `1.9.8 (Fig: l0) and spring. loading ofthe .presserfoot :l 96, the frotary .knife will strip threads improperly wound. .upon ithe..collar (Fig. .16) and the connecting neck portionoffthe bobbin B even though such threads .have not beensloughed by the` knife |54. The spring loading of the .presser foot .|96 also .makes it possible to strip Ibobbins having a tapered body as well as the cylindrical bobbins B illustrated.

It .should be understood that the `present disvclosureis for the purpose .of illustration` only and that this invention :includes `all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims. Y

I claim:

l. AApparatus.forstripping 'threadfrom a bobbin comprising holding means for releasably holding the bobbin, vthread stripping Ameans including a knife for Ysevering the thread upon the bobbin and an oppositely disposed plow for removing the 'several threads, and means for Yeffecting relative movement between the holding means and the stripping means so that'the plow and knife are brought into operating engagement with the thread on the bobbin.-

2. Apparatus for stripping thread from bobbins comprising a magazine-for holding a plurality of bobbins at rthe periphery thereof, a plurality 'of stationscircumferentially positioned about said magazine including a loading station, a thread sloughing station, and a thread `stripping and unloading station, Imeans for rotating themagazine 'successively to present the bobbins to the respective stations, and mea-ns for removing thebobbins fromV theA magazine after the thread has been stripped tl'i'erefrom.`

3. Apparatus for stripping thread from bobbins comprising a magazine for the bobbins including .two axially aligned ldiscs, one of which has a plurality'of-apertures circumferential-ly located at equally spaced vintervals for receiving one'endof the respective bobbins, the other discs having a plurality of recesses inthe periphery thereof `cor-- responding to vthe apertures in the rst disc for receiving the opposite end of the respective bobbins, a shaft ccnnectingthe discs to maintainthe apertures and correlated recesses in axial alignment, and a cover member positioned to enclose vthe periphery of the second disc so that the bobbin `ends are restrained in the respective recesses; a plurality of stations including a Athread stripping station; means for moving the magazine successively to present the bobbins to the nrespective stations; and means for removing the bobbins from the Vmagazine after the `'thread has been stripped therefrom. i v

4. .Apparatus for stripping thread from bobbins comprising a magazine for the bobbins including two axiallyaligned'discs..one of whichhasa plu"- rality of apertures circumferentially located at equally spaced intervals for receiving one end of the respective bobbins, the other disc having a plurality of recesses in the periphery thereof corresponding to the apertures in the first disc for receiving the opposite end of the respective bobbins, a shaft connecting the discs to maintain the apertures and correlated recesses in axial alignment, and a cover member positioned to enclose the bobbin ends are restrained in the respective recesses; a plurality of stations including a thread stripping station; a Geneva movement having a crank arm with a roll at the end thereof for intermittently moving the magazine successively to present the bobbins to the respective stations, slots for engaging the roll being cut in the rst disc midway between the respective bobbin restraining apertures; and means for removing the bobbins from the magazine after the thread has been stripped therefrom.

5. Apparatus for stripping thread from bobbins comprising a magazine for holding a plurality of bobbins; a plurality of stations including a thread stripping and unloading station, means for rotating the magazine successively to present the bobbins to the respective stations, a plunger for contacting the end of the bobbin in the unloading station, a hollow member for receiving the bobbins as they are removed from the magazine at the unloading station by the plunger, and a detent v for restraining the removed bobbin in the hollow member so that the plunger can be withdrawn.

6. Apparatus for stripping thread from bobbins comprising a magazine for holding a plurality of bobbins; a plurality of stations including a thread stripping and unloading station, means for rotating the magazine successively to present the bobbins to the respective stations, a plunger operated by a quick return cam synchronized with the'rotation of the magazine for contacting the end of the bobbin in the unloading station, a hollow member for receiving the bobbins as they are removed from the magazine at the unloading station by the plunger, and a detent for restraining the removed bobbin in the hollow member so that A.

the plunger can be withdrawn.

'7. Apparatus for stripping thread from bobbins comprising a magazine for the bobbins including two axially aligned discs, one of which has a plurality of apertures circumferentially located at equally spaced intervals for receiving one end of the respective bobbins, the other disc having a plurality of recesses in the periphery thereof corresponding to the apertures in the first disc for receiving the opposite end of the respective bobbins, a shaft connecting the discs to maintain the apertures and correlated recesses in axial alignment, and a cover member positioned to enclose the periphery of the second disc so that the bobbin ends are restrained in the respective recesses; a plurality of stations including a loading station with a slot in the cover member so that the bobbins can be inserted in the magazine, and a thread and unloading station; means for moving the magazine successively to present the bobbins to the respective stations; and unloading means for removing the bobbins from the magazine at the unloading station after the thread has been stripped therefrom, said unloading means including a cam operated plunger synchronized with the movement of the magazine for contacting the end of the bobbin in the unloading station, a hollow member for receiving the bobbins as they are removed from the unloadfag station by the plunger and a detentfor restraining the removed bobbin in the hollow member so that the plunger can be withdrawn.

8. Apparatus for stripping thread from bobbins comprising a magazine for holding a plurality of bobbins at the periphery thereof, a plurality of stations circumferentially positioned about said magazine including a thread sloughing station having a knife with a blade angularly disposed with respect to the axis of the bobbin so that the blade sloughs the thread as the magazine is rotated, a thread stripping station having a power driven rotary knife for cutting the thread from the bobbin and an oppositely disposed plow for ripping the severed thread from the bobbin, means for rotating the magazine successively to present the bobbins to the respective stations, and means for removing the bobbins from the magazine after the thread has been stripped therefrom.

9. Apparatus for stripping thread from bobbins comprising a magazine for holding a plurality of bobbins, a plurality of work stations including a loading station, a thread sloughing station and a thread stripping station and an unloading station, means for moving the magazine successively to present the bobbins to the respective work stations, and means for removing the bobbins from the magazine after the thread has been stripped therefrom.

l0. Apparatus for stripping thread from bobbins comprising a magazine for holding a plurality of bobbins at the periphery thereof, a plurality of work stations circumferentially positioned about said magazine including a loading station, a thread sloughing station and a thread stripping station and an unloading station, means for rotating the magazine successively to present the bobbins to the respective work stations, and means for removing the bobbins from the magazine after the thread has been stripped therefrom.

11. Apparatus for stripping thread from bobbins comprising a magazine for holding a plurality o-f bobbins at the periphery thereof; a plurality of work stations circumferentially positioned about said magazine including a loading station, a thread sloughing station having a yieldable cantilever member secured at one end and with a series of teeth at its free end arranged to engage the thread upon each bobbin as it is 'moved into the sloughing station by the rotation of the magazine so that a rotary motion is imparted to the bobbin, and a knife angularly disposed with respect to the axis of the bobbin for sloughing the end portion of the thread upon the bobbin as it is subjected to the rotary motion, and a thread stripping station; means for moving the magazine successively to present the bobbins to the respective work stations, and means for removing the stripped bobbins from the magazine after the thread has been stripped therefrom.

12. Apparatus for stripping thread from bobbins comprising a magazine for holding a plurality of bobbins at the periphery thereof, a plurality of work stations circumferentially positioned about said magazine including a station having an air jet for removing lint and thread from the spindle apertures in the respective bobbins, a loading station, a thread sloughing station and a thread stripping and unloading station, means for rotating the magazine successively to present the bobbins to the respective work stations, and means for removing the bobbins from the magazine after the thread has been stripped therefrom.

13. Apparatus for stripping thread from bobbins comprising a magazine for the bobbins including two axially aligned discs, one of which has a plurality of apertures circumferentially located at equally spaced intervals for receiving one end of the respective bobbins, the other disc having a plurality of recesses in the periphery thereof corresponding to the apertures in the first disc for receiving the opposite end of the respective bobbins, a shaft connecting the discs to maintain the apertures and correlated recesses in axial alignment and a cover member positioned to enclose the periphery of the second disc so that the bobbin ends are restrained in the respective recesses; a plurality of work stations including a station having a jet of air through the ldisc aperture positioned in such station thereby removing any lint or thread in the spindle aperture in the bobbin carried in such aperture, a loading station, and a thread stripping and unloading station; a means for moving the magazine successively to present the bobbins to the respective work stations; and means for removing the bobbins from the magazine after the thread has been stripped therefrom.

14. In bobbin stripping apparatus vsupporting means for holding a bobbin, a sloughing knife having a cutting edge angularly disposed with respect to the axis of the bobbin for severing the thread wound thereupon, means for relatively moving the supporting means with respect to the knife to bring the cutting edge into engagement with the threads, and means for rotating the bobbin as the thread is severed so that the angularly disposed cutting edge severs the thread with asloughing action.

15. In bobbin stripping apparatus supporting means for holding a bobbin, an instrumentality having a cutting edge for severing the thread Wound upon the bobbin, means for relatively moving the supporting means with respect to the instrumentality to bring the cutting edge into engagement with the threads, and means for rotating the bobbin as the thread is severed so that the cutting edge severs the thread with a sloughing action.

16. In bcbbin stripping apparatus supporting means for holding a bobbin, a sloughing knife having a cutting edge for severing the thread wound upon the bobbin, means for relatively moving the supporting means with respect to the knife to bring the cutting edge into engagement with the threads, and means including a yieldably mounted member having teeth for engaging the thread Wound upon the bobbin as the supporting means is moved with respect to the knife thereby t0 rotate the bobbin as the thread is severed so that the cutting edge severs the thread with a sloughing action.

17. A bobbin stripping apparatus comprising: a rotary bobbin magazine including a horizontal shaft, a pair of spaced vertical disks carried by said shaft and each having peripheral circumferentially spaced bobbin supporting means; a bobbin loading station; a bobbin stripping and unloading station; means for intermittently rotating said magazine whereby bobbins loaded therein at said loading station are presented successively at said stripping and unloading station; stripping means mounted at said stripping and unloading station adjacent one of said disks and above a horizontal plane passing through said shaft, said stripping means comprising a power driven rotary cutter disk s-o positioned as to be capable of cutting the thread remaining on a bobbin presented at said stripping and unloading station without cutting the surface of the bobbin; a reciprocating horizontal plunger mounted outside said magazine in alignment with said stripping and unloading station; and means to operate said plunger in timed relation with said magazine rotating means whereby to engage an end of a bobbin at said stripping and unloading station and move said bobbin endwise past said stripping means to cut the thread thereon and eject said bobbin from said magazine.

CARL F. WHITAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,070,751 Tower Aug. 19, 1913 1,106,239 Peterson Aug. 4, 1914 1,109,949 Walsh Sept. 8, 1914 1,119,705 Loner Dec, 1, 1914 1,198,314 Baude Sept. 12, 1916 1,722,243 Davis July 23, 1929 2,303,048 Hudson Nov. 24, 1942 2,510,348 Peterson June 6J 1950 

